FWP Issues Statement on Montana Stream Access Law

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has recently received questions on Montana’s Stream Access Law and how it is applied across the state. For landowners and recreationists alike, it’s important to know about the law and understand how it applies to private land and water-based recreation.

“The public has a right to enjoy water-based recreation on rivers and streams in Montana below the high-water mark,” said FWP Director Dustin Temple. “The public also has the right to access rivers and streams from public road right of ways and easements, including bridges. This is settled law and we will continue do our part to ensure these rights are maintained on behalf of the recreating public.”

To learn more about Montana’s Stream Access Law, click here.

Sportsmen’s Alliance Granted Intervention in Refuge Lawsuit

The Sportsmen’s Alliance, together with Safari Club International and National Rifle Association, was granted intervenor status in a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to phase out lead ammunition in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in West Virginia.

Suit was brought against FWS by anti-hunting organizations for removing Canaan Valley Refuge from a list of refuges where a phase-in of a lead ban had been scheduled in a previous rulemaking by the Service. FWS removed Canaan Valley from the list after the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources opposed including the refuge in the proposal, citing lack of scientific evidence and the expense of nonlead alternatives for hunters.

“This is a great day for the hunting community because we now have a place at the table as this baseless lawsuit moves forward,” said Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “We can help show our support for the decision to remove this refuge from the list as we continue to fight for maintaining full access to our public lands for every hunter and angler in America.” Read more

Michigan Hunters: Report Your Deer Harvest Online

Just like last year, all harvested deer are required to be reported. The easiest way to report a harvest is by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

Once the app is downloaded and you’ve signed in or created an account, you can enter the harvest report information.

You can also report a harvest online. Visit Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport on a computer or mobile device to go directly to the reporting page. Enter your kill tag license number and date of birth to begin the report.

If you don’t have your hunting license/kill tag number, you can log in to eLicense (using your driver’s license and birthdate, or user ID and password), then click on the Harvest Report tab to see the tags available to report. If you don’t already have an account, you will have the chance to create one to enter your report.

Find more information on harvest reporting on the harvest reporting webpage. If you need assistance, you can call your local DNR customer service center or the main Wildlife Division line at 517-284-WILD (9453) during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Never Shoot the Wrong Antlerless Deer Again

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Now that deer Chad Stewart of Michigan’s DNR has implored hunters to take more antlerless deer in the Southern Lower Peninsula, it’s imperative to identify the most suitable animals in the herd to maximize results.  Although taking fawns is typically not on the agenda, some hunters make the mistake of thinking they are larger than they actually are and sheepishly wish they’d have held off.  Fortunately, the National Deer Association (NDA) has compiled an educational video to help identify specific traits of does afield so that ethical hunters can get the best bang for their buck.

Glen Drags Out a Good Doe

Although the NDA states there’s nothing wrong with taking a fawn, I disagree – especially, if it’s a buck fawn.  If one’s goal is to reduce the herd or to balance the ratio of bucks to does, taking a buck, whether immature or a whopping 10-pointer, it amounts to one animal from the herd.

On the other hand, by taking a doe, it has a compound effect on the population over the lifetime of a female breeder.  Obviously, even removing a doe fawn from the herd fits the bill, but there’s not a heck of a lot of meat as reward for the effort.  When one considers the cost of the tag plus processing, the cost per pound of venison is remarkably higher; there is no discount for tiny deer!

Before getting into specifics, a good binocular is highly recommended to define subtle differences; it’s far better and safer than relying on one’s scope.  Make sure to add a good binocular harness that’ll keep the glass clean, dry, and ready.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what would be the value of an instructional video?  To find out, the NDA in conjunction with Chief Conservation Officer and wildlife biologist Kip Adams and The Bearded Buck (an Outdoor Entertainment Company), has produced a video to teach viewers how to separate adult does from younger does and doe fawns from buck fawns.  To view the new video, visit NDA’s YouTube channel here where you can also find the 2022 video on Aging Live Bucks in the Field.

The 18-deer quiz at the clip’s conclusion allows viewers to practice what they’ve learned throughout the video. Here, viewers are provided a few seconds to identify wild deer afield.

“The ability to separate antlerless deer into two general age groups – fawns and adults – is obtainable for all hunters with a little knowledge and some practice,” said Adams. “The three key characteristics are body size and shape, head size and shape and animal behavior. This is especially pertinent when you have a group of deer in front of you during hunting season. Estimating the sex and age of live antlerless deer is a great skill for hunters.”

Having two or more deer together can help to distinguish size, because hunters are able to compare them, while the difference is more noticeable in early season.  I can tell you that I’ve made the mistake of thinking a lone button buck was a good doe and I never want to make that mistake again.

Already, I’ve begun to use my newfound education to size up any and all deer I’ve been observing and it’s been an exciting change in viewing. We owe it to the betterment of the herd, and ourselves to put this valuable wisdom to work in our repertoire of hunting tactics.

Take a Bite Out of the Chill While Waiting for a Bite on the Line

When winter hits, outdoor activities do not end. With the cold weather comes a wide range of unique activities that many enjoy. In the northern part of the United States and Canada, ice fishing is a wildly popular activity. The amount of preparation and time spent ranges wildly from person to person. But one thing is clear; it is cold.

THAW helps combat frigid temperatures by offering a wide range of dual-use items to keep users warm. When ice fishing, temperatures can dip wildly low. The Heated Seat Pad provides an alternative to sitting on cold plastic, nylon, or ice. With an optional rechargeable battery bank, the Heated Seat Pad can provide warmth for your derrière for up to 5 hours while offering plenty of comfort with the 2-inch padding. The waterproof construction makes this an excellent choice for the ice fishing hobbyist. Read more

Dorsey Covers How Ballot Box Biology Bypasses the Expertise of State Wildlife Officials

Is the traditional role of state fish and wildlife agencies coming to an end? That is increasingly the question as some of the nation’s most important–and often controversial—issues are no longer being decided by wildlife professionals whose charter it is to manage natural resources for the greater good. Instead, animal welfare groups and others have staked a clear strategy to circumvent state agencies through the referendum process. That is, if you want to ban mountain lion hunting or introduce wolves to a state, you have only to collect signatures from a population generally easy to sway with emotional media campaigns and overwhelm your opponents on election day– poor outcomes for people and wildlife be damned.

Some 26 states across the country allow citizens to propose legislation through the referendum process, part of the signature reforms of the Progressive Era—a form of so-called direct democracy where the people, not special interests, are supposed to make governing decisions. Instead, referendums have become rife with special interest influence. The referendum process has been especially embraced in the West where some of the country’s most challenging wildlife issues reside—including battles over what to do about burgeoning mountain lion, grizzly, and wolf populations. Read more

Learn about wetlands, waterfowl at October open houses

Whether you want to learn about waterfowl hunting opportunities, enjoy excellent wildlife viewing or hear about the benefits of healthy wetlands, October is the perfect time to discover Michigan’s Wetland Wonders.

These are the premier managed waterfowl hunt areas in the state, created for exceptional waterfowl hunting opportunities and managed to provide waterfowl habitat for nesting and migration and for the benefit of other wetland wildlife. Since the start, the areas have been funded by hunting license fees and area use fees, but they are open for anyone to visit and enjoy most of the year.

Several of the Wetland Wonders will host open houses next month, giving visitors the chance to talk with local staff, tour the areas and see what each one offers for the upcoming waterfowl season. All open houses begin at 6 p.m. at the area’s headquarters:

Open house information also is listed on the special events tab of each location’s webpage.

NDA Premieres ‘Identifying Antlerless Deer in the Field’ Video and Quiz

The National Deer Association is pleased to announce the premiere of a new educational video project, “How to Identify Antlerless Deer in the Field,” produced in partnership with The Bearded Buck. The 17-minute video uses live footage of wild whitetail deer in order to teach viewers how to separate adult does from younger does and doe fawns from buck fawns. The video includes an 18-deer quiz at the end.

Balancing a deer population with the habitat and available food requires harvesting the appropriate number of does. This may be a lot in some areas, a few in others and none in more isolated cases. Being able to separate the does by age in the field allows hunters to selectively harvest antlerless deer–whether their goal is to harvest more mature does and reduce the deer herd, or harvest younger does and allow the deer herd to grow.

In this new video, NDA Chief Conservation Officer and wildlife biologist Kip Adams shares tips on how to separate adult does from younger does in the field–and even how to identify fawns (deer under 1 year of age) as does or bucks. Read more

Whitetails Unlimited Offers Whitetail Watch Signs

Whitetail Watch is an anti-poaching initiative created by Whitetails Unlimited to improve hunter/landowner relations and reduce the crime of poaching. To curb this illegal activity, participating landowners will post Whitetail Watch signs on their property. These signs will serve as visible reminders to poachers that citizens are on the watch and suspicious activity will be reported to the wildlife law enforcement.

Whitetail Watch property signs are made from PVC, measuring 11.25 inches on a side, and are white with red and black printing. Decals matching the sign, measuring 3.5 inches on a side, are also available. The signs and decals are suitable for use anywhere in the United States.

The recommended posting distance for Whitetail Watch signs is one sign for every 300 feet of road frontage or four signs per 40 acres.

To order complimentary Whitetail Watch signs or decals, please call Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters at 920.743.6777 or send an email to nh@whitetailsunlimited.com. Read more

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